reporter: the white house also released a statement in president obama's name in which the president said in part, quote, michelle and i warmly remember our meeting with the holy father in 2009, and i have appreciated our work together over these last four years. the church plays a critical role in the united states and the world, and i wish the best to those who will soon gary to choose his holies in, pope benedict xvi's successor. the british prime minister pope of his donary's affection for the pope. and the french president called the decision courageous, and appears that is a growing view among many in the catholic world, that while this is now a time of some trepidation as they award a successor being appointed. this was in the end a very personal decision by pope benedict xvi and in the eyes of many, absolutely the right one. greg? >> jonathan hunt, thanks very much. we showed you a comment by thary. -- shop of washington, dc. he will be a guest this evening on special report, 6:00 p.m. eastern time. >>> the big question for a billion catholics today, who will be the next pope